"Reach for the Skies": The Top 6 Westerns

I think it's no exaggeration to say that I freaking LOVE Westerns. Few genres have as much character and atmosphere as the narratives that explore the Old West, and it works exceptionally well for a variety of tones. The genre is all about retrospective analysis of a time in which the American really was the self-made man, as the plains of the West were a mostly lawless and chaotic place to be, where anything could happen at any time, and you would, for the most part, get away with it. It's a setting that can be presented in a variety of ways, whether through the rose-tinted glasses of romantic nostalgia, wishing for the days of stylish heroes facing off against outlaws in dramatic duels before riding off into the sunset, or in a much colder, more cynical manner, where villains won because there was no one there to stop them, and good people died because no one cared for anyone but themselves. Either scenario can be equally as engaging, and both fit in beautifully with the genre. Also, I've gotta love a genre in which wearing stylishly badass hats is the norm.

        But what are the best Westerns? Which ones manage to demonstrate the best qualities of the genre, encapsulating both the campy and the serious? And which of them manage to elevate themselves above cliched examples of their own genre, and actually present narratives with relevant themes that extend beyond the era that is being portrayed? Let's get this hoedown started, and talk about the Top 6 Westerns. I know what you're thinking. "Why top 6?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is an online critical article, the most powerful piece of opinionated rambling in the world, and would blow your head right off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?